Money, documents taken in courthouse break-in

State police were called in to investigate and four offices were closed after a break-in at the Bureau County Courthouse.

Ann Weeks

Bureau County officials were baffled by an overnight break-in at the county courthouse that prompted them to shutter four offices Thursday while they searched for missing money and documents.

"I am not at liberty to tell everything that is missing, but documents that deal with civil processing, and documents of the courts are missing from my office," Sheriff John Thompson said Thursday. "I cannot tell you what else is missing, because it may interfere with the integrity of the investigation."

The circuit clerk’s and county clerk’s offices are reporting money is missing, although the amount is not known. The zoning and assessments office has not commented on what, if anything, is missing there.

Those four offices were closed Thursday, although the county treasurer’s office and the state’s attorney’s officers were not affected by the break-in and were open. Also, court was in session all day.

"After talking with Judge Marc Bernabei, we felt that we could preserve the integrity of the investigation and still hold court. As Judge Bernabei pointed out, there were some significant cases that needed to be dealt with," Thompson said.

The break-in apparently occurred between 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, when the courthouse was closed, and 7 a.m. Thursday, Thompson said.

Thompson was notified by Sheriff Deputy Bill Redshaw, who was called by employees in the circuit clerk’s and county clerk’s offices after they came to work at around 8:30 a.m.

"I noticed that although money was stolen, the offices were not ransacked," Redshaw said. "There was no sign of forced entry. They looked like they would normally would."

The courthouse has no security other than a camera in the courtrooms and one outside to observe the transfer of prisoners to the county jail accross the street. Thompson said Redshaw routintely closes the courthouse for the night and did so Wednesday.

"Nothing seemed out of the ordinary," the sheriff said.

Investigators were called in from the Illinois State Police office in LaSalle. State Police are not commenting on when they will complete the investigation, but Thompson does not expect it to be soon.

"This is going out to the community. This not only affects the courthouse but the community as a whole," he said.

"Anyone who has contact with the building, whether it is a office head, officer worker, deputy, or the common man: Investigators will be asking questions on what was the nature of their business at the courthouse the last few days," he said.

Redshaw was concerned about the people who wanted to use the courthouse Thursday.

"I hate to tell people who at times have to come all the way in to Princeton to do business with the clerks offices, that at this moment the offices are closed. I feel bad for the time it takes out of their day."

Thompson said the offices should be open today at their regular times, but people should call call ahead before making the trip.

An earlier investigation continues into missing money in the circuit clerk’s office.

Police began the investigation March 12 after they were contacted by someone from the office.

Authorities said Thursday they do not see any connection between that investigation and this week’s break-in.